Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 2 no. 27 July 12, 1992 1) Mickey Katz (Sheldon Benjamin) 2) International guide to shvitz (Sheldon Benjamin) 3) Where are the others? (Stephen Dubin) 4) Lyrics: an offer (Ellen Prince) 5) National Yiddish Book Center Camp (Arn Abramson) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 08 Jul 92 23:46:43 EDT From: sbenj@Athena.MIT.EDU Subject: Mickey Katz Regarding Alex Rosenberg's queery about Mickey Katz...I, too, enjoy his music. I think we should whisper, though, as I recall our shames mentioning once that borsht belt Yinglishizing might be a bit declasse for Mendele. I have a few tapes of Mickey Katz collections that were reissued in the not too distant past. I purchased them at our local Jewish book store. Don Byron, the former clarinetist with Boston's Klezmer Clonservatory Band, has become an expert on Mickey Katz, and has performed only MK tunes in New York, where he now resides. I believe Mickey Katz is deceased. However, his son is alive and has become interested in playing his father's tunes. He has gotten together with Don Byron on this I believe. Katz was a very talented clarinetist but also a master of the parody. Remember Dovid Krockett, King of Delancey Street? The Cry of the Vilde Kotchke? I've never seen a published song book of his, but would certainly like to obtain same if you learn of one's existence. Sheldon Benjamin 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 09 Jul 92 00:05:00 EDT From: sbenj@Athena.MIT.EDU Subject: International Guide to Shvitz's Though not a matter of Yiddish language exactly, it struck me that mendele readers could well be of the sort that appreciate a good shvitz. Any interest in reviewing the shvitz's that exist in our respective cities? It would be a great travel aid. I refer, of course, to the traditional Russian-style Jewish shvitz where one can spend several hours relaxing, having a pleytza perhaps, and getting generally contented. Here in Boston, there are at least a few places, but my favorite is the Blue Hill Shvitz. A fellow named Yossel gives wonderful playtzes there...gathers the oak leaves himself in the fall, dries them and bundles them in his basement, and what a machaya! This particular shvitz migrated to Norwood from Roxbury 20 years ago. It hasn't been in Blue Hill for years except in spirit. They make a real effort to preserve the Yiddish feeling there. How many of Mendele's readers have a good shvitz in town in which to take refuge? Care to offer a review? Sheldon Benjamin [Take nisht Yiddish, ober afile trakhtndik derfun komt tsu a shtik fargenign. nm] 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 09 Jul 92 07:49:11 EDT From: Steve Dubin Subject: RE: Mendele Vol 2.26 The recent discussion about Mickey Katz and Menashe Skulnick prompt me to post another query. Can anyone tell me the whereabouts and/or well being of the great Maurice Schwartz and Yakov Bullov? I recall their theatrical work with great pleasure. I also recall Maestro Schwartz's artistic temperament from the time I was a yeshive bucher in "Yosele Solovei." Also is any of their work or other serious Yiddishe theater on tape? I saw Bulov's troupe perform Macbeth and Death of a Salesman in Yiddish - ten times better than the Old Vic!!! Stephen Dubin 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 09 Jul 92 19:45:39 -0400 From: "Ellen F. Prince" Subject: lyrics i've gotten so many requests for my transcripts of menasha skulnik and mickey katz that i thought some of you might like some other record transcriptions that i've made and that i have on-line--many many many by a yiddish singer named sarah gorby. she wasn't well known in north america (having been mysteriously deported from the u.s. after ww ii), but was fairly well known in south america and paris. anyway, all you yiddish singers/song enthusiasts, let me know if you want them and how many. (i should warn you that the transcription of gorby's stuff is not the official yivo transliteration since i was doing a dialect study and needed a more fine-tuned system. but i can send along a key.) ellen prince 5)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 10 Jul 92 16:11:25 EST From: "Arthur S. Abramson" Subject: RE: Mendele Vol 2.26 To Benjamin C. Kite: Alas! It is too late to enroll in the "Yiddish Summer Camp" this year. I came back Sunday the 5th from a stimlating and enjoyable week on the Mt. Holyoke College Campus in South Hadley, Mass. It a week-long seminar run every summer by the National Yiddish Book Center, which recently moved to temporary new offices on that campus. All members of Mendele should join the Center. If you do, in addition to supporting its activities, you will get the word on all special events. Arn Abramson ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol 2.27 If your message is intended for MENDELE, please write to: mendele@vax1.trincoll.edu If you want to discuss personal business or have a shmues with the shames, please write to: nmiller@vax1.trincoll.edu Please sign your articles.